Updated 10:45 pm, Thursday, May 23, 2013

Ernest Thompson Seton sits with his grandson Seton Cottier in his lap. At his left is granddaughter Pamela. Standing, from left, are his daughter, Ann (author Anya) Seton Chase, and his wife, Grace Gallatin Seton.
Photo: Contributed Photo

Ernest Thompson Seton sits with his grandson Seton Cottier in his...

Former scout maser Mark Noel, of Hanover, NH, holds up a new merit badge of inclusion during a press conference at the Equal Scouting Summit being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the Boys Scouts of America meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization.
Photo: LM Otero, AP Photo/LM Otero

Former scout maser Mark Noel, of Hanover, NH, holds up a new merit...

Terri Hall, left, of San Antonio, Texas, stands with her son Nathaniel Hall, 8, as they hold signs near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization.
Photo: LM Otero, AP Photo/LM Otero

Terri Hall, left, of San Antonio, Texas, stands with her son...

Boys Scout Alex Derr speaks out against anit-gay rules during the Equal Scouting Summit Press Conference being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. The boxes in front of Derr hold petitions calling for the Boy Scouts of America to end its anti-gay policies. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Photo: LM Otero, STF

Boys Scout Alex Derr speaks out against anit-gay rules during the...

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, center, is greeted as her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns, 8, bottom, looks on during the Equal Scouting Summit being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the Boys Scouts of America meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Photo: LM Otero, STF

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, center, is greeted as...

John Stemberger, center, leads a press conference backed by people against the proposed change in the Boy Scouts of America gay policy Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the Boys Scouts of America meeting nearby are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

As the Boy Scouts of American's National Council voted Thursday to ease a long-standing ban on openly gay Scouts while still barring gay adults as leaders, some Connecticut Scout organizations want to go further.

The Connecticut Yankee Council, which represents more than 17,000 youth and 4,600 adult volunteer leaders in Fairfield and New Haven counties, said that it welcomes all youths and leaders regardless of their sexual orientation.

The Greenwich Council of Boy Scouts, one of the oldest and most historically significant Scouting organizations in the country, expressed its dismay over the vote.

"While the Greenwich Council of the Boy Scouts supported the proposed Resolution as a first step in the right direction, we were very disappointed that it did not revoke this discriminatory standard in its entirety," the Greenwich council said in a letter to the community shortly after the vote.

"Over the past few weeks we have canvassed our sponsoring organizations, scout leaders, scout parents and Board members about this issue, and we can report to you that the vast majority of our Council believes that discrimination of any nature is inherently contrary to the tenets and purposes of Scouting and at odds with the values of our community."

Of the Scout leaders voting Thursday at their annual meeting in Grapevine, Texas, more than 60 percent supported the proposal to lift the ban on gay youths while still barring gay adults.

The outcome is unlikely to end a bitter debate over the Scouts' membership policy.

Some conservative churches that sponsor Scout units wanted to continue excluding gay youths, in some cases threatening to defect if the ban were lifted.

More liberal Scout leaders -- while supporting the proposal to accept gay youth -- have made clear they want the ban on gay adults lifted.

"Scouting in the Connecticut Yankee Council is open to all youth and adults who subscribe to the values of the Scout Oath and Law regardless of their personal sexual orientation," wrote Connecticut Yankee Council President Michael Abrahamson in a message to families posted on its website. "All our Scouts and leaders must display the highest levels of good conduct and any sexual conduct within Scouting is unacceptable."

The larger Connecticut River Council, which serves 32,000 youth and 9,000 adult volunteers in 127 cities and towns, including all of Litchfield County, already had taken a stand in support of gay Scouts and leaders. Council executive Steven Smith last year said the council has gay leaders and that such sexual orientation has not been an issue because the Scouting program does not include a sexual agenda.

A few hours before the Boy Scouts of America was to announce its decision, a former Scouts organizer in Bridgeport said keeping the ban in place would be harmful to the organization.

"I think our country is moving forward and I don't think these organizations should stay behind," said Onte Johnson, 28. "If they don't do this (lift the ban) at the end of the day they'll have more people turning their backs. They'll have more criticism."

Roxbury pack volunteer Jen Iannucci said the issue of sexual orientation should make no difference in providing what has been a long-standing tradition of great, character-building opportunities for young men.

"A great troop, a great unit is made by a great leader, and their personal preferences have nothing to do with the quality of the program," said Iannucci. "Giving a great scouting experience -- that should be the focus of Scouts, not how someone lives their personal life."

The BSA's overall "traditional youth membership" -- Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers -- is now about 2.6 million, compared with more than 4 million in peak years. It also has about 1 million adult leaders and volunteers.

Of the more than 100,000 Scouting units in the U.S., 70 percent are chartered by religious institutions. Some have previously supported the broad ban -- notably the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Southern Baptist churches.